Appointment of Resident Agent by Nonresident Property Owner
As of July 1, 2021, the Clerk’s Office of the State Corporation Commission is the central filing office in Virginia for all Appointment of Resident Agent by Nonresident Property Owner filings.
These would be new filings as of that date. You still need to contact the clerk of the local circuit court in the locality in which the property is located to identify the resident agent for any filing made prior to 7/1/2021.
Pursuant to § 55.1-1211 of the Code of Virginia:
- Every lease executed by or on behalf of a nonresident property owner regarding any residential real property shall specifically designate an agent and provide the agent's office address for the purpose of service of any process, notice, order, or demand required or permitted by law to be served upon the nonresident property owner.
- Every nonresident property owner is required to appoint and to continuously maintain an agent who (i) if such agent is an individual, is a resident of Virginia, or if such agent is a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or other entity, is authorized to transact business in Virginia and (ii) maintains a business office in Virginia.
- No nonresident property owner shall maintain an action in the courts of the Commonwealth of Virginia concerning property for which an agent designation is required until such designation has been filed.
File form SCC55.1-1211 to appoint a Resident Agent. The resident agent must have a Virginia office address. There is a $10 fee to file this form.
To obtain information for the name and address of a resident agent appointed by a nonresident property owner, contact the Clerk’s Office at (804) 371-9733 or toll-free at 1-888-722-2551.
Yes, you can file your Resident Agent Appointment online.
To file online you will need to first create an account. For step-by-step instructions, see our How-to guide on creating an account.